BLM seeks input for proposed Dry Creek Trona Mine in Southwest Wyoming
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KEMMERER, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer and Rock Springs field offices are seeking public comment on the draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Dry Creek Trona Mine south of Green River in Sweetwater County. Trona is a mineral used to make soda ash, an essential raw material in baking soda, glass, chemicals, detergents, and other important industrial products, including the production of lithium-ion batteries.
If approved, Pacific Soda would be authorized to construct mine well fields, processing facilities, a co-generation plant, storage ponds, a landfill, transportation facilities, and a water pipeline to mine and process materials from underground trona beds located 2,300 feet below the surface. As proposed, the mine and associated facilities could potentially disturb 3,300 acres of private lands and 2,900 acres of public lands. Pacific Soda estimates there are approximately 117 million tons of recoverable trona within the proposed project area that could produce approximately 6 million metric tons of marketable soda ash and over 440,000 metric tons of baking soda annually.
Additional information, planning documents, and maps are available for review at the BLM National NEPA Register, where written comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” option. Comments may also be delivered to: Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer Field Office, Attn: Kelly Lamborn, 430 North Highway, Kemmerer, WY 83101. The public comment period will close September 23, 2024.
A public meeting will be held September 5, 2024, 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Hampton Inn, Green River Room, 1055 Wild Horse Canyon Road, in Green River, WY.
For more information, please contact Kelly Lamborn, 307-828-4505, klamborn@blm.gov or BLM_WY_Dry_Creek@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.